Smoke signal body



. M 14,1970 R g/Mum ET AL 3,520,275

SMOKE SIGNAL BODY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 1968 1: I f x r I HG? ATTORNEYS July 14, 1970 H. GAWLICK ET AL SMOKE S IGNAL BODY Filed Feb. 12, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS f/ez'n z Gaw/zck Glyn zf/zer Moro/1a?! United States Patent 3,520,275 SMOKE SIGNAL BODY Heinz Gawlick, Furth, Giinther Marondel, Erlangen, and Hellmut Bendler, Nuremberg, Germany, assignors to Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft, Troisdorf, Germany Filed Feb. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 704,649 Claims priority, application Germany, Feb. 17, 1967, D 52,300 Int. Cl. G08b /40 U.S. Cl. 116-124 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A smoke signal body having two or more readily breakable containers, for example of glass, disposed closely adjacent each other and containing a material that will produce smoke upon the access of air and/or moisture, or as the result of the intermixture of two or more components such as titanium tetrachloride, tin tetrachloride, or the like. A housing, preferably of plastic, protectively surrounds the containers and is provided with a plurality of apertures within the area of the containers for releasing the generated smoke. Propellant powder, with detonator, is provided for driving projectiles into respective ones of the containers to destroy them and release the smoke producing composition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In civilian and military applications, it is quite often necessary to signal the location of equiment or instruments that have been dropped from the air.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, this problem is solved with the aid of a smoke signal body or member having two or more containers consisting of a breakable material, for example glass, which are disposed in tandem and/or side-by-side and filled with a substance that will produce smoke upon the access of air and/ or moisture, or as a result of the intermixture of two or several components, for example titanium tetrachloride, tin tetrachloride, or the like. The containers are disposed within a protective housing, preferably of a synthetic plastic, for example a thermoplastic, which is provided with smoke releasing apertures within the area of the containers. The housing contains projectiles coordinated with respective ones of the containers, which are driven into the containers by a detonator ignited propellant charge to be actuated either mechanically or electrically and contained within the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Futher, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more clear from the following description of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view through a smoke signal body according to the present invention, which is pro vided with two containers;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view, similar to FIG. 1, of a modified form of the invention having six containers, with portions removed;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view taken through the smoke signal body of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view through a smoke signal body according to another embodiment of the present invention, which is provided with four containers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIG. 1, two containers 3 are filled with a smoke producing composition 4 and are disposed closely "ice adjacent each other within an enclosure or housing 2 The housing 2 is preferably constructed of polyethylene or the like, with a central member 1 of metal for purposes of grounding the detonator. The containers are secured within the housing by means of the covers or caps 5. Within the area of the containers 3, the housing 2 is provided with a plurality of apertures 6 for releasing the smoke producing composition 4 or the smoke generated thereby while avoiding the undesirable escape of the propellant gases produced upon detonation. A detonator and propellant powder charge 8 is disposed centrally within the bore 7 of the central member 1. The apertures 6 are advantageously arranged at the end of the housing opposite from the central member 1.

The illustrated electrically actuated detonator 8 has a pole piece 10 connected to the electrical signal supply line 9, with the pole piece being constructed as a projectile for destroying one of the two containers 3. On the opposite side of the detonator from the pole piece 10, there is provided a tamping body 11 that is constructed in substantially the same manner as the pole piece 10 to provide a projectile for destroying the other one of the two containers 3.

The two synthetic plastic portions of the housing 2 are rigidly connected with the central member 1 by interlocking annular grooves and annular rib portions. It is also contemplated that other suitable means of connection may be provided, for example, a screw connection.

After the smoke signal body is dropped, the detonator 8 will ignite the propellant powder by means of a signal from a current source positioned outside of the housing 2 through the supply line 9. The thus generated propellant gases will drive the pole piece 10 and the projectile 11 in opposite directions within the bore 7 so that they will strike and destroy their respective containers 3. Due to the access of air or moisture, or also by means of providing a subdivision of the containers 3, as shown in FIG. 4, for containing two separate components that upon mixture will produce smoke, smoke will be produced which will be released out of the apertures 6 of the housing 2. In FIG. 4, two containers 3 are disposed in tandem, one of which contains titanium tetrachloride, tin tetrachloride 4 or the like, while the other container is filled with water 15. Upon simultaneous destruction of the containers 3, immediate mixing of the two substances takes place, resulting in the production of smoke at the point of landing. Thus, a visible signal will be produced indicating the point of impact or landing so that the location of the dropped instrument or equipment connected thereto will be clearly marked so that it may be found and recovered.

The smoke signal body according to FIGS. 2 and 3 corresponds in principle to the smoke signal body according to FIG. 1, with like numerals being provided for like elements. However, six, instead of two, containers 3 are provided in a star-shaped symmetrical arrangement with a corresponding number of projecticles 11. Instead of the detonator and propellant powder charge being displaceable within a bore, it is provided within a separate chamber 12 that is screwed into the housing and connected with the bores 7 of the projecticles 11 by means of the gas conducting duct 13. After the electrical firing of the detonator contained within the chamber 12, the generated propellant gases move through the duct 13 into the expansion chamber 15 formed by the bottom surfaces 14 aluminum oxide, asbestos, etc. Also, the formation of smoke may be intensified by the addition of substances such as ammonia or the like.

It is contemplated that the housing 2 may be constructed of other suitable materials instead of plastic. It is important that the housing material provide adequate protection for the containers against premature destruction and provide secure covers or caps at the outer ends so that the containers will be securely held within the housing against the explosive pressure of the propellant charge. It is also extremely important that the apertures 6 be arranged within the housing so that an undesirable escape of the propellant gases will be prevented which might prevent the desired destruction of the containers and so that there 'will be no obstruction blocking the escape of the smoke produced.

The primer charge and propellant composition is proportioned in the required manner in conformity with the respectively prevailing conditions, particularly the number of containers to be destroyed as well as the thickness and strength of the container material to be destroyed.

Instead of the ignition of a single charge to drive all of the projecticles, it is contemplated that a plurality of charges may be provided for successive ignition. Also, it is contemplated that instead of electrical firing, the firing may be brought about by percussion, shock, or the like. Electrical firing has the advantage that it may be accomplished by radio, for example.

Two or more of the smoke signal bodies according to the present invention may be advantageously combined into a single unit and accommodated Within a common enclosure or container. The current source may be advantageously provided within this enclosure. Also, the interstices of the enclosure may be filled with a suitable material to prevent any possible damage of the various components.

Two preferred embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration; however, further variations, modifications and embodiments are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A smoke signal body, comprising: at least two closed containers of a readily breakable material being disposed closely adjacent each other, each of said containers being filled with smoke producing means; housing means surrounding and protecting said containers from accidental breakage and rigidly connecting them together; said housing means having aperture means for each of said containers and providing release passages for said smoke producing means upon breakage of said containers; at least two projecticles; said housing means having central means for receiving said projectiles and for guiding said projectiles into respective ones of said containers; propellant powder means ignitable for driving said projectiles into their corresponding containers upon ignition for breaking said containers and releasing said smoke producing means through said aperture means to produce a visible signal at the point of impact.

2. The smoke signal body of claim 1, wherein said smoke producing means produces smoke when combined with air.

3. The smoke signal body of claim 1, wherein said smoke producing means produces smoke combined with Water.

4. The smoke signal body of claim 1, wherein each of said containers is subdivided to provide two immediately adjacent closed chambers; said smoke producing means consisting of two smoke producing ingredients contained in respective ones of said chambers that will produce smoke upon combination.

5. A smoke signal body according to claim 4, wherein said ingredients are chosen from the group consisting of metal tetrachlorides.

6. A smoke signal body according to claim 4, wherein said ingredients are chosen from the group consisting of titanium tetrachloride and tin tetrachloride.

7. A smoke signal body according to claim 1, wherein said propellant powder means consists of a single charge of propellant powder and a single detonator for all of the projectiles.

8. A smoke signal body according to claim 1, wherein there are at least three of said containers elongated and disposed with their longitudinal dimensions radially extending symmetrical with respect to the geometric center of said housing means.

9. A smoke signal body according to claim 8, wherein said propellant power means consists of a single charge of propellant powder and a single detonator for all of the projectiles.

10. A smoke signal body according to claim 1, wherein said containers are constructed of glass and said housing means is constructed of a synthetic plastic, and including a detonator for igniting said propellant powder means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 305,881 1/1884 Bachelder 102-57 1,417,299 5/ 1922 Cahill 10261 X 2,379,257 6/1945 Scott 102-61 2,866,414 12/1958 Smith 102-57 X 2,876,935 3/1959 Lindbergh. 2,884,836 5/1959 Allen 102-57 X 2,989,024 6/ 1961 Tralongo. 3,013,495 12/1961 Stevenson et al. 10290 X 3,150,875 9/ 1964 Searles.

FOREIGN PATENTS 693,479 9/1964 Canada.

S. CLEMENT SWISHER, Primary Examiner D. M. YASICH, Assistant Examiner 

